[AstroNet] Astronomy outreach at Savannah Mall in Polokwane

[Kos Coronaios]

PRESS RELEASE

As part of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) Limpopo Astronomy Outreach and the University of Limpopo's Science Centre will be at Savannah Mall on Saturday the 5th of December 2009.

This astronomy outreach initiative in the region in collaboration with The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and The Department of Science and Technology (DST) celebrates some of Galileo's findings.  Some of these discoveries were:  That the Sun was not perfect, but has sunspots.  There are thousands of stars invisible to the naked eye.  The Moon has mountains and craters on its surface.  Saturn has a ring system around it.  The planet Venus goes through phases similar to the Earth's Moon and that Jupiter is orbited by four small moons.  In 1612 Galileo observed the planet Neptune 234 years before it was discovered by mathematical calculations.  He discovered the laws governing falling bodies and projectiles and in the history of culture Galileo stands as a symbol of the battle against authority for the freedom of inquiry. 

Some of the activities that the audience can participate in will be the building of a basic refracting telescope, giving a view similar to what Galileo had 400 years ago and a Star Wheel showing how the evening sky, depicting the stars and constellations, appear at specific times in the evening.  Part of the astronomy exhibition consists of posters showing our place in the Universe and the Milky Way, the Solar System and a series of posters showing an illustrated time-line of cosmic and fossil history going back  2.1 billion years. 

During the evening images of the Moon, Jupiter and various deepsky and stellar objects will be shown on a big screen via a camera attached to the telescope.  Information on the objects that are visible will be available and a presentation of "what's up" will also be done.  This tour of the evening sky will point out the constellations, stars and planets that are visible as well as some of the mythology and folk lore relating to them.  

Contact Kos Coronaios on 079 148 4934 for more information


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